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The rabies virus is fortunately uncommonly seen in
our pets thanks to routine
vaccination. Wildlife seem to be the reservoir
for the virus, and four species of wildlife actually
can carry the virus for periods of time, without showing
symptoms. The striped skunk, fox, raccoon,
and bat all can harbor the rabies virus, and shed it
in their saliva without showing clinical symptoms of
disease.
All warm-blooded creatures are susceptible to infection
with rabies. Although rodents can contract the
disease, usually they aren't a problem with spread of
the virus, as encounters with the larger wildlife infected
with rabies are typically fatal to the rodent.
Cats are considered to be fairly resistant to infection.
However, eating out of the same dish or container shared
with other wildlife, infected saliva could enter the
cat's mouth through an open wound or cut.
Dogs are often infected when encounters with wildlife
lead to a bite.
Diagnosis of rabies can only be made through microscopic
examination of the brain. When bitten by an animal
suspicious of carrying rabies, if the animal is caught,
the decision to sacrifice the animal for determination
of rabies or to quarantine the animal is conditional.
Your veterinarian sometimes in conjunction with state
and local officials, will use the conditions leading
up to the bite and the species of animal to decide.
If the animal is one of the wildlife carriers, sacrificing
the animal for diagnosis is commonly recommended.
If bitten by a domestic cat or dog, sometimes quarantining
the animal for 10 days to determine if the animal comes
down with rabies, is done to prevent the death of the
animal. Cats can incubate rabies for longer than
the 10 day period, and wild or feral cats are generally
not allowed the period for quarantine if their vaccination
history is unknown.
Check with your veterinarian, and your state and local
officials for recommendations if bitten by an animal
suspicious for rabies in your area.
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